Kehinde Fajobi
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has charged Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Saidu, former Chief of Staff to ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, with money laundering.
According to the charge sheet filed on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, Saidu, who also served as Commissioner of Finance, allegedly accepted a cash payment of ₦155 million from Ibrahim Muktar, a public officer in the Ministry of Finance, in March 2022.
The payment, which exceeded the amount authorised by law, was allegedly received through Saidu’s Special Assistant, Muazu Abdu.
The ICPC stated, “Sometime in March 2022, Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Saidu accepted cash payment of the sum of ₦155,000,000.00 from Ibrahim Muktar, exceeding the amount authorised by law.
“The sum was received in cash through your proxy, Muazu Abdu, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 2(a) and punishable under Section 19(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
The commission further alleged that Saidu “indirectly took control of the sum of ₦155,000,000.00 received in cash by Muazu Abdu on your behalf, which you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: corruption.”
This offence is said to contravene Section 18(2)(d) and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The ICPC highlighted that Section 18(3) prescribes a penalty of imprisonment for four to fourteen years or a fine of at least five times the value of the proceeds of the crime, or both, upon conviction.
The charges were signed by ICPC Assistant Chief Legal Officer, Dr Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, and filed under case number FHC/KD/IC/2025.
Saidu was previously investigated for allegedly laundering ₦3.96 billion and misappropriating ₦244 million during his tenure in Kaduna State.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly also accused El-Rufai’s administration of allegedly siphoning over ₦423 billion in state funds.
Further developments in the case are awaited as the legal proceedings begin.